LinkCAD can import PDF and PostScript files and export PostScript with configurable page layout.
| Format | Extensions | Import | Export | License |
|---|
| PDF | .pdf | ✓ | — | Basic |
| PostScript | .ps, .eps | ✓ | ✓ | Basic |
Import Options
Pages
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|
| Page number | Page to convert (multi-page documents) | 1 |
Arc Resolution
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|
| Segments per 360° | Number of line segments for a full circle | 72 |
Geometry
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|
| White areas as holes | Subtract white shapes from colored shapes | Off |
| Ignore clipping paths | Skip clipping path processing | Off |
Text
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|
| Explode all text | Convert all text to polylines | Off |
| Explode special text | Convert only unusual fonts to polylines | Off |
Advanced
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|
| Pstoedit options | Additional command-line flags for pstoedit | — |
PostScript Export Options
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|
| Paper size | A3, A4, A5, A6, Executive, Folio, Legal, Letter, or Custom | A4 |
| Custom size | Width, height, and margins | — |
| Landscape | Rotate page to landscape orientation | Off |
Layer Layout
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|
| Superimpose layers | Draw all layers on single page | On |
| Reverse order | Superimpose with reversed layer order | Off |
| Separate vertically | Stack layers vertically on page | Off |
| Separate horizontally | Arrange layers side by side | Off |
| Layers per page | Number of layers on each page | All |
| Black & white | Ignore layer colors | Off |
Scaling
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|
| True scale (1:1) | Preserve physical dimensions | Off |
| Custom scale | User-defined scale factor | 1.0 |
| Fit to page | Scale to fill the page | On |
Arc Resolution
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|
| Segments per 360° | Arc approximation quality | 72 |
Common Workflows
PDF → GDSII
Extract geometry from PDF documentation or mask review files.
GDSII → PostScript
Generate printable layout plots for design review.
DXF → PostScript
Create scaled printouts of mechanical drawings.
Technical Notes
- PDF import converts vector graphics only — raster images embedded in PDFs are not imported
- PostScript export includes a preview of the page layout
- Multi-page PDF documents can be imported one page at a time
- Text can be preserved as text entities or exploded to polylines for guaranteed visual fidelity
CLI / Command-File Options
These option keys can be used on the command line or in command files.
Import
| Key | Type | Description |
|---|
PsInDrawText | int | Text handling — 1=explode all to paths, 2=explode special only |
PsInIgnoreClipPath | flag | Ignore clipping paths |
PsInPage | int | Page number to import (multi-page documents) |
PsInPstoeditOptions | string | Additional pstoedit command-line flags |
PsInSubtractWhite | flag | Subtract white regions from colored shapes |
Export
| Key | Type | Description |
|---|
PsOutStandardFormat | int | Paper size — 0=A3, 1=A4, 2=A5, 3=A6, 4=Executive, 5=Folio, 6=Legal, 7=Letter |
PsOutFormatType | int | Paper format type — 0=standard, 1=custom |
PsOutCustomPaperWidthValue | float | Custom paper width |
PsOutCustomPaperLengthValue | float | Custom paper length |
PsOutPaperMarginValue | float | Paper margin |
PsOutPaperUnits | int | Paper dimension units (see Units) |
PsOutScaleMode | int | Scaling mode — 0=1:1 absolute, 1=custom, 2=fit to page |
PsOutCustomDbScale | float | Custom scale factor (when PsOutScaleMode=1) |
PsOutDbScale | float | Database scale |
PsOutLandscape | flag | Landscape orientation |
PsOutLayout | int | Layer layout — 0=superimpose normal, 1=separate vertically, 2=separate horizontally, 3=superimpose reversed |
PsOutLayerCount | int | Layers per page |
PsOutBlack | flag | Force black & white output |
PsOutPaperLengthPt | int | Paper length in points |
PsOutPaperWidthPt | int | Paper width in points |
